Method for threading strip through a continuous strip processing line



Jan. 17, 1956 H. c. MORROW 2,731,262

METHOD FOR THREADING STRIP THROUGH A CONTINUOUS STRIP PROCESSING LINE Filed June 25, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l l l/ FIFO 7 /J :hN L H 50 /5 7 Inventor Haze) C filo/wow Jan. 17, 1956 c, MORRQW 2,731,262

METHOD FOR THREADING STRIP THROUGH A CONTINUOUS STRIP PROCESSING LINE Filed June 25, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,g a? jawenior:

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7, 1956 H. c. MORROW 2,731,262

METHOD FOR THREADING STRIP THROUGH A CONTINUOUS STRIP PROCESSING LINE Filed June 25, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIE-5- FiEfif mwx/dm United States Patent METHOD FOR TMEADING STRIP THROUGH A CONTINUOUS STRIP PRGCESSING LlNE Harry C. Morrow, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application June 25, 1953, Serial No. 364,128

2 Claims. (c1. 271-11 This invention relates to a method of threading strip through a continuous strip processing line and more particularly to the connecting and threading of strip which breaks in the processing equipment. One specific place where the method is suitable is in a cleaning tank having a cleaning fluid therein through which the strip passes over a plurality of rolls in several substantially vertical passes. Prior to the development of the present invention it was necessary to dump the cleaning solution from the cleaning tank when a strip broke in the tank. Threading ports in the bottom of the tank were then opened to provide access to the bottom rolls and the crew dropped a small link chain down each of the pass lines. One of the workmen would reach through the ports and connect the chains together under each of the bottom rolls. When the continuity of the chain was completed a piece of banding material was jogged through the unit, the broken end of the strip was attached tothe band and the cleaner threaded with strip. The threading ports were then closed and the pumps started to refill the cleaner tank. The operation required a shutdown of between 35 and 90 minutes.

The patents to Greenberger No. 2,277,319 and Keller No. 2,581,026 disclose threading apparatus suitable for threading strip in a substantially horizontal path through a tank. However, the apparatus disclosed in the patents is not suitable for the threading of broken strip through a tank having vertical passes.

It is an object of my invention to provide a method of fastening together strip broken in the processing tank and threading the strip through the tank without the necessity of drawing liquid therefrom.

This and other objects Will be more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a cleaning tank;

Figure 2 is a view taken on the line IIII of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 1 showing the location of the ends of the broken strip during an intermediate step in my method;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the ends of the strip just prior to fastening them together;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of a detail of my invention; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one end of Figure 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates a tank for containing a liquid such as a cleaning solution. The tank contains a plurality of rolls 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 around which a strip S passes. A pair of endless chains 18 are contained in the tank one on each side of the rolls 4 to 16 so that the chains follow the path of the strip S through the tank. Spaced apart drive sprockets 20 are arranged above and adjacent the roll 4. Spaced apart sprockets 22 are arranged above and adjacent the driven roll 16. The drive sprockets 20 are mounted on a shaft 24 for rotation therewith. The shaft 24 is driven by means of a reversible motor 26 through a slip clutch 28. Pairs of sprockets 30, 32 and 34 for each chain are arranged in the tank below the rolls 6, 10 and 14, respectively and similar pairs of sprockets 36 and 38 for each chain are located above the rolls 8 and 12, respectively. Each of the chains 18 pass around their respective sprockets 20, 22, 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38, as clearly shown in Figure 1. At least one of the links of each of the chains 18' is replaced by an attachment 40 which consists of a link portion 42 and a flange 44 which extends toward the other chain, as best shown in Figures 5 and 6. A hole 46 is provided in the flange 44. The attachment 40 on one chain is aligned with the attachment on the other chain. When desired a bar 48 having bifurcated ends 50 for receiving the flanges 44 may be placed in the position shown in Figures 5 and 6 and held in place by means of pin 52 passing through openings 54 in the bifurcated ends 50 and the hole 46. The sprockets, except for drive sprockets 20, may be replaced by fianged wheels or sheaves which will serve to guide the chains 18 in their travel. While it is preferred to have the guide wheels rotatable they may be stationary in some instances. The device may also be used in splicing strip which breaks in a furnace.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The strip passes from the uncoiler 56 over roll 58 and through the tank 2. In case of strip breakage, as shown in Figure 1, the free end S1 of the strip already in the line is jogged ahead by operation of the driven roll 16 to a point adjacent the roll 12. The other broken end S2 of the strip is jogged backwards by operation of the uncoiler 56 to a point adjacent the roll 8 where an eye-loop is made on the end of the strip as shown in Figure 3. The threading bar 43 is inserted through the eye and fastened at each end to the attachments 40 in the manner described above. The chains 18 are then rotated by operation of the motor 26 in a forward direction and the end S2 is pulled downwardly through the solution around the roll 10 and then upwardly until it reaches a point adjacent the end S1, as shown in Figure 4. The eye is cut oil, the threading bar 43 removed, and the two loose ends of the strip welded together with a portable Welder, after which the line is put back into operation. if the strip breaks between the rolls 4 and 8 it is only necessary to move the end S1 of the strip to the roll 8 and if the break occurs between rolls 12 and 16 the strip end S1 is moved to a point adjacent the roll 16.

While one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. The method of fastening together broken ends of a strip passing through a tank having a liquid therein in a plurality of vertical passes around spaced apart upper rolls having at least the upper part thereof located above the liquid in said tank and spaced apart lower rolls located at the bottom of said tank with a reversible chain following the path of the strip through the tank on each side of said strip; which method comprises feeding that part of the strip in the exit end of the tank toward the exit end of the tank until the broken end is adjacent one of the rolls above the liquid level, pulling that part of the strip in the entry end of the tank backwardly toward the entry end of the tank until the broken end is adjacent one of the rolls above the liquid level, fastening the last named end of the strip to the chains, moving the chains with the attached strip toward the exit end of the tank until the last named end of the strip is adjacent the first named end, and then fastening the ends of the strip together.

2. The method of fastening together broken ends of a strip passing through a tank having a liquid therein in 3 a plurality of vertical passes around spaced apart upper rolls having at leastthe upper part thereof located above the liquid in said tank and spaced apart lower rolls located at the bottom of said tank with a reversible chain following the path of the strip through the tank on each side of said strip; which method comprises feeding that part of the strip in the exit end of the tank toward the-exit end of the tank until the broken end is adjacent one of the rolls'above the liquid level, pulling that part of the strip in the entry end of the tank backwardly toward the entry end of the tank until the broken end is adjacent one of the rolls above the liquid level, forming an eye-loop in the last named end of the strip, passing a bar through the loop and attaching it to said chains, moving the chains with the attched strip toward the exit end of the tank 15 4 until the last named end of the strip is adjacent the first named end; removing the bar from the chains and the loop, severing the loop fromthe end of the strip, and then fastening the ends of the strip together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 889,209 Cutler June 2, 1908 1,624,735 Hurxthal Apr. 12, 1927 1,179,026 Sullivan Nov. 7, 1939 2,277,319 Greenbcrger Mar. 24, 1942 2,379,339 Brunk June 26, 1945 2,581,026 Keller Jan. 1, 1952 2,590,699 Heyer Mar. 25, 1952 

